Locking mechanism for operation-control mechanism for motion-picture cameras



Jan. 3, 1950 ClSSKl 2,493,443

4 LOCKING MECHANISM FOR OPERATION-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MQTION-PICTURE CAMERAS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1946 Jan. 3, 1950 1,. QISSKI H 2,493,443

LOCKING MEQHANISM FOR OPERATIQN-CONTHOL MECHANISM FOR MOTION-PIQTURE CAMERAS Filed Aug. 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 3, 1950 l. OlSSKl 2,4939443 LOCKING;MECHANISM FOR OPERATION-CONTROL MECHANI M FOR MOTION-PICTURE CAMERAS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Au 2, 1946 I (2 4 mm Patented Jan. 3, .1950

LOGKING .zlVIEGI-IANISM "FOR 1 OPERATION- CON'IROL MECHANISM FOR MOTION- .--PIGTURE A E'RA I Irving Cisski, Schiller Park, 111., assignor .to --Ampro' Corporation, Chicago, Ill... a corporation of Illinois ApplicationAugust. 2, 1946;:Serial Nos 681,923

5' Claims.

' This-invention relates to \lolckingmeans for the operation-control mechanism for motion picture cameras.

.For motion picture. cameras there aretwo occasions when the operatonpa'rticularly' the .non-

professional, may find it advantageous to be able to lockthe operation-control mechanism a ainst actuation. One ofthese' is when the camera is in transit, and especiallyif. it is .beingcarried in a coat pocket. "The. other is whenthe operator .desires to be includedin the scene whichihe is about to take.

The. main objects or" this invention,ltherefore, are to provide animproved form of loclging means for the operationecontrol mechanism for. motion :picture camera; t provide improved meansof thiskind'which is adapted tolock the operation control mechanism in its normal neutral position orin its runfposition: to.pro'vide an improved associational' arrangement of the actuating member for the locking. means with the actuating member of the starting means for 'theopera'tioncontrol mechanism so'that as oecafsion may require both members may be shifted'by fingers on one and .the sameihandg and to provide a locking means of this'kind which is simple in construction and; positive 'in operation.

"A' preferred embodiment of this invention" is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, on a scale considerably larger than actual size, wherein:

Fig. 1 is-anenlarged transverse sectional view of a *camera showing in elevation the related parts of an. improved.operation-control mechanism wherewith' this: improved. locking means is associated; the view also shows 7 the; relationship of said operation-control mechanism withthe torque controlled actuator and the magazineoperated cam member, the predetermined movement of either ofwhichis adapted to'rerider the operation control' mechanism ineffective;

Fig.2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of'Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is an'elevation'al de.tail, partly broken away, of the concentrically-mounted members. by which the'operation-control mechanism and the locking means therefor areiactuated;

Figfl is an inside elevationaldetail of the conne'ctionbetween the starting means and theoperation-control mechanism, taken. on the line 4- 4 of Fig.2;

Fig.5 is a transverse sectional view of-Qtheassociated starting and .lockingumeans, as Viewed from the plane of the line 55 of Fig. a;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary'detail of the locking bar shown in position to lock the starting means, for

5.2 the operatiomcoptrol: mechanism, in its neutral .noneoperative (position, the view being taken on the dine. fi- -fifof Fig.5

.Fig. 7 is ai similar. view showing the bar shifted .toits noneloclging position; and I Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the bar-shifted to. .it snl ocking positionafter theactuating member for the operationecontrolemechanism. starting-means has beenshiited .to its run.position.

A motion picture cameraembodying this.- improved. locking means for-.the starting mean .for the operationrcontrol mechanism comprises a housing iihdivided byua verticalpartition. Il -to form...a; magazine compartment. .I 2; and". a- .motor compartment i 3,. in the latter of which is arranged an notor .(not shown) in. association .with the torqueecontrolled actuator I 4. The. .usual. train or gears (not shown) ,connects the .motor to=operate afilm-shutter. and -transport mechanism (not shown) -..-as permitted by the. operation-control =mechanisrn. 95, unless it isv otherwise. rendered-ineffective by means of the torque-controlledraetuator [Lor- .the. magazinercontrolled camv member l6. Thestarltingmeans I!v (Fig.3).ior the-operationecontrol rmechanism. l5 .ma y.-be locked inits :fineutralior irunf positions by. .means of them.- provedlooking mechanism 1 8. (Fig.. 5)

The housing. I I]. is provided .with a. hinged. door 19,. the openingof which permitsthe insertionof .amagazinedntdor .its removal from thecompart- .ment l 2 and the, consequent con-trolof the. mechanismefiect ng h ing; f t cam mem er ifi a will ppear more ul y fr mpend n application Serial No. 640,951, filed January l2 1946, now. Patent Number 2,433,601,..issued June 221.1948. Althoughnot herein shown; the housing I .51 hasa' front end cap wherein is mounted. afilmshutter. and rtran pOlt -mechanism.. of. the type disclosedflin .co-pending. application Serial No. 640,952,.fi1dJanuary 12 1946.

The construction and operation oi torque-eontrolledactuator. i4 isidisclosed in. greater detail i -pending. application Serial No.-640, 957; filed January 12,1946. .Thisactuator. i4 oomprisesran arml2ll swingably mountedon a shaft 2 I ltowhioh the springof the=moto1vis attached. The arm has a. liinited swinging. movement inv oppositedi-rections under the. force of the torqueot-thespring motoror the adjustable resilient-means 22-hdQ-r pending upon which is the stronger-ms may a-be permitted by the engagement-of.. the:shou1ders-.2 3 and .24..against.the; pin 25. fIhetor-que of the springmotords exerted on the arm-2l1 1bm.rnea ns oiudispss 26, :21, .and 28, so as-to swing: filler-3x111 counterclockwise, as shown by the arrow in Fig.

' 3 1. The peripheries of the discs 26 and 21 are urged into contact with the periphery of the disc 28 by means of a spring 29.

Up to a certain point in its unwinding, the torque of the spring motor will hold the arm 20, in what might be termed its retracted position, with the shoulder 23 pressing against the pin 25. When the torque drops, so that its force on the arm 20 becomes less than the pressure exerted by the adjustable resilient means 22, the bottom of the arm will be swung in a clockwise direction to render the operation-control mechanism inoperative, as set for fully in copending application Serial No. 640,949, filed January 12, 1946, now Patent No. 2,442,756.

The operation-control mechanism I5, to the extent that it is herein shown, comprises a trigger bar 30, a pin-retracting lever 3|, a cam rocker arm 32, and a cam lever 33, so associated that upon the shifting of a dial or actuatin member 34, of the starting means |1 (Fig. 3), the spring motor will cause the operation of the film-shutter and -transport mechanism, unless the operative relationship of the afore-named parts has been rendered ineffective by a shifting of the torqueactuated arm or the magazine-controlled cam member IS.

The trigger bar 30 approximates the form of a T, with the stem extending nearly the full length of the housing l0 and with the transverse part 36 located near the forward end of the housing adjacent to an end cap (not shown) wherein is enclosed the aforesaid film-shutter and -transport mechanism. The trigger bar 30 is slotted at 31 and 38 whereby it is slidably supported on the pin 25, which is secured to the partition I I, and a bushing- 39, mounted on a machine screw 39' secured to the adjacent housing Ill. The bar 30 is guided in its sliding movement by having the upper end of the transverse part 36 received in a flanged roller 40 mounted on a plate 4| secured to the housing ID by means of screws 42.

As will be noted more particularly from Fig. 2, the trigger arm 30 has the forward and rear portions of the stem offset at 43 so that the forward portion of the stem 35 and the tansverse part 36 are located about halfway between the partition I I and the adjacent wall of the housing I0. The transverse part 35 of the trigger bar 30 has tongues or stops 44 and 45 upset therefrom so that upon the shifting of the trigger bar 30 one or the other of said shoulders may be moved into and out of engagement with a shoulder 46 on a trigger cam 41.

The character and the mounting of the trigger cam 47, and its connection with a spring motor, are not shown herein. These details, however, are presented in co-pending application Serial No. 640,955, filed January 12, 1946, now Patent No. 2,482,744. From such co-pending application it will be noted that this trigger cam 41 is mounted on a shaft connected to a motor, through a suitable gear train, and driven in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the left of Fig. 2) when the trigger bar 30 is shifted to move one or the other of the stops 44 or 45 out of the path of said trigger-cam shoulder 46. Such release of the trigger cam 4! permits the operation of the filmshutter and -transport mechanism as has been set forth more fully in the aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 640,952.

The trigger bar 30 is held in its normal or neutral position, with the stop 44 engaged by the shoulder 46 on the trigger cam 41, by means of a hairpin-shaped spring 49 secured at the; upper end of the bracket 4| so that the ends 50 of the spring bear against and are retained in position by the flanged ears 5| formed on the upper end of the transverse part 35 of said trigger bar 30. Comparable flanged ears 52, formed on the bracket 4|, engage the respective legs of the spring 49 and limit them to movement in but one direction.

A T-shaped slot 53 is formed in the stem 35 of the trigger bar 30, a little less than half the distance of its length from the transverse part 36. The slot 53 receives a pin 54 carried on the pinretracting lever 3 The pin-retracting lever 3| simulates the shape of a pistol and is supported on the trigger bar 30 on a sliding pivot formed by a pin 55 secured to the trig er bar 30 and extending through a slot 56 formed in the forward end of the pin-retractinng lever 3|. A spring 51, secured by a pin 58 on the trigger bar 30, has the end 59 thereof received in a slot 50 formed in the pin 55 and the other end 6| pressing against a pin 62 on the pin-retracting lever 3 The pin 54 is thereby urged into the bottom of the stem of the T-shaped slot 53 in the trigger bar 30, so that the trigger bar 30 and the pin-retracting lever 3| will move as a unit, and position the bottom edge 63 of the rear end of the pin-retracting lever 3| for engagement by a shoulder 65 on the cam rocker arm 32, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The cam rocker arm 32 is pivoted to a pin 65 secured to the partition I I. With the camera in its normal upright position the Weight of the cam rocker arm 32 retracts it from the edge 63 of the lever 3 l, unless, perchance, the balance of the cam lever 33 should be such that the engagement of the hook 56 with the shoulder 64 will cause the shoulder on the cam rocker arm 32 to be held in contact with said edge I53. On the other hand, the balance of the cam lever 33 may be such that the lower edge of the shoulder part 64 may rest on the bottom of the camera housing. Should the camera be placed in an inverted position, the weight of the cam rocker arm 32 will cause the shoulder 64 to rest against the edge 63 of the pin-retracting lever 3|. However, the spring 5! will prevent the cam rocker arm 32 from having any eifect on the lever 3 The cam lever 33 is pivoted on a pin 68 secured to the partition The pin 68 is positioned in the cam lever 33 so that the end 69 of the lever overbalances the other end. Thus the shoulder 61 is normally held against the hook 66 of the cam rocker arm 32. This mounting of the member 33 locates the inclined surface 710 of the end 69 in the path of the magazine-controlled cam member |6, so that the movement of the latter to the right of Fig. 1 will depress the outer end 69 of the cam lever 33. This, in turn, will cause an elevation of the rocker arm 32 and render the control mechanism I5 inoperative, in the manner that has been set forth in the aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 640,949.

The starting means I? includes an actuating member or dial 34 which is mounted on the eX- ternal right-hand side of the camera housing l0 and which is connected to a disc H (see Figs. 2 and 5) journaled on the housing and mounting a pin 12 on the inner face thereof. The pin 12 extends into an elongated slot 13 formed in the pinretracting lever 3| in vertical alinement with the stem part of the T-slot 53 in the trigger bar 30.

The locking mechanism l8, associated with the starting means comprises a disc member 14 which operatesa bar to.move a bifurcated extension 16 into and out of position to engage a pin? Hz which moveseini unison with. the pin? 12 on the disc H.

The disc '14 is-concentrically mounted with respect to the dial 34 by means of a threaded pin 18 which screws into a pin 19- which in turn secures the dial 534 to a shaft 80 on the innerJend-of which is mounted thedisc H. The outer face of the member 74 is serrated at 8| to insure a better contact of the fingers therewithwhen it is desired to rotate said member.

The bar E5 is slidably mounted in a recess 82 formed in the side of the housing Ill and is retained in position by a plate 83 so that it can have a limited movement back and forth when the member 14 is rotated. To that end a pin 84 mounted on the member 14 is received in a slot 85 formed in the bar 15.

The bifurcated part i6 depends from the bar 15 in position so that its pair of prongs 86 are adapted to receive the pin 11 when the member 34 is in its neutral non-operative position. This bifurcated part is so shaped that when the member 34 is shifted for a continuous run the lower prong 86 is positioned so that the lower side thereof is engaged by the pin 1'1 and the member 34 is held in its run position until the bar 15 is retracted.

The operation of this improved locking means is as follows:

Normally, the several, hereinbefore-described parts of the operation-control mechanism [5 occupy the positions shown in Fig. 1. If the motor spring is not completely unwound and the magazine is in place and the locking mechanism I8 is retracted, the camera is ready for use. As has been fully set forth in the aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 640,949, a movement of the dial 34 will cause the pin 12 to shift the pinretracting lever 3i which will cause the pin 54 to shift the trigger bar 30 and release the trigger cam 41 to permit the operation of the film-shutter and -transport mechanism.

If the camera is to be transported in a pocket or other receptacle, it will be desired generally to lock the dial against accidental movement. To that end the member 14 may be turned clockwise, whereupon the bifurcated extension 16 of the bar 15 is shifted into the position shown in Fig. 6. The pin 11 being engaged between the prongs 86 of the bifurcated extension 16 the dial or member 34 may not be shifted.

On occasion the operator of the camera may desire to be in a scene which is to be shot. Assuming that the locking means [8 is retracted, it is only necessary, after having shifted the starting dial 34 to run position, to turn the member 14, again in clockwise direction. Thereupon the lower prong of the bifurcated extension 16 is moved into position to engage the pin 11 and prevent the return of the starting dial 34 when the finger is released therefrom.

These two members 34 and 14 being concentrically mounted in close association makes it possible for the operator to turn the member 14 with one or two of the fingers of the same hand whereon one of the fingers has shifted the starting dial 34 into its run position.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising,

aimember' .shiftabl vino opposite directions from -a;.normaltneutral position and connected to-ac- .tionedLmember, alpair' ofxshoulders. on said: bar,

and a shoulderv-on saidfirst-mentioned member adapted to be engaged by said shoulders to selectively lock said first-mentioned member against movement in its neutral position or one of its shifted positions.

2. A device of the class described comprising, a member pivoted to rotate in opposite directions from a normally neutral position and connected to actuate the operation-control mechanism for a motion picture camera, a second member concentrically mounted with respect to said first-mentioned member and rotatable to occupy either of two positions, a bar connected to be shifted by said second-mentioned member, a bifurcated extension on said bar, a connection between said second-mentioned member and said bar whereby the rotation of said member causes a shifting of said bar, and a shoulder on said first-mentioned member positioned to .be shifted to engage said bifurcated extension to lock said first-mentioned member in its neutral position when said second-mentioned member is shifted to one of its positions, said shoulder being adapted to be engaged by one of the prongs of said. bifurcated extension when said first-mentioned member has been shifted to one of its non-neutral positions and said second member has been shifted to said one of its positions.

3. A device of the class described comprising a member shiftable in opposite directions from a normal neutral position and connected to actuate the operation-control mechanism of a motion picture camera, means mounted adjacent and separate from said member for shifting from an unlocking to a locking position for positively locking said member in its neutral position and similarly shiftable to the same locking position when said member has been moved into another of its positions to lock said member in such position, and mechanism manually operable independently of said member for moving said means between its unlocking and locking positions.

4. A device of the class described comprising, a control member shiftable in opposite directions from a normal neutral position and connected to actuate the operation-control mechanism of a motion picture camera, said member having a locking surface moving to different positions by shifting of the member, a locking member mounted adjacent said control member and shiftable between a lockin and an unlocking position, and means carried by said locking member for cooperation with said locking surfaces when the locking member is in its locking position to prevent shifting of the control member when in its neutral position, and to prevent shifting to its neutral position when in one of its other positions.

5. A device of the class described comprising, a control member shiftable from a neutral position to plural second positions to actuate the operation control mechanism of a motion picture camera, a locking member adjacent said control member and shiftable between a looking and an unlocking position, a blocking surface on said control member and a pair of sur- REFERENCES CITED faces on said control member respectively arranged to engage said blocking surface when the he following efe e ces are of record in the control member is in its neutral position and fi e O th Paten one of its second positions and the locking mem- 5 her is shifted to its locking position, said block- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing and pair of surfaces being arranged to pre- Number Name Date vent movement of the control member from its 1,920,953 Carpenter 1933 position when such engagement occurs, 2,049,944 Carpenter Aug. 4, 1936 10 2,323,576 Sperry July 7, 1943 IRVING CISSKI. 2,390,389 Redler Dec. 4, 1945 

